Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)

The inland taipan is considered the most venomous land snake in the world. Dorsal colour varies from pale fawn to yellowish-brown to dark brown, with the head and neck being several to many shades darker than the body. Colour changes seasonally, with individuals becoming darker in winter and fading in summer.

The darker colour of head and neck allows the snake to heat itself while only exposing a smaller portion of the body at the burrow entrance. The eye is of average size with a blackish brown iris and without a noticeable coloured rim around the pupil.

Scientific name : Oxyuranus microlepidotus

Distribution : Central-East Australia

Average Size : 1.8 m (5.9 ft)

Life Span : 15 years or more

Difficulty : Advanced

Housing

Can be housed individually in suitably sized plastic click clack storage containers to suit their size. Adults can be housed in a top opening laminated glass fronted melamine or ply built cabinet. My adults are housed in threes, one male & two females. The melamine cabinets are 2.1 meters long × 0.6 meters wide x 0.6 meters high (7 x 2 x 2 feet) & top opening. All cabinet glass is laminated glass.

Hide box

I have hide boxes at each end & one contains a small heat pad under a little mulch.

Substrate

My choice is dried out eucalyptus mulch & a little sand which settles to the bottom.

Lighting – Heating

I use 2 x 60 watt spotlight globes a meter apart. They are about 0.2 meters (0.6 feet) off the ground & they are adjustable, for height to suit winter or summer. In summer I lift all these globes up about 0.15 meters (0.5 feet) so its not too hot. The ambient temperature of the enclosure in summer should be 27-30 °C (80-86 °F) with a hot spot of 35-38°C (95-100 °F). During winter the ambient temperature is 20-22 °C (68-71 °F) with a minimum at night may be around 10-12 °C (50-54 °F). I have a vent at each side at ground level and a large one at the top. They are well ventilated.

Water

Water bowls for all my snakes are the 4 or 6 inch ceramic reptile ones. Drinking water is always available.

Humidity

The only time I make it humid is when she’s coming up to lay soon. This is done around the hide which contains the plastic removable lay box which contains the moistened vermiculite & peat mix. The other 2 hide boxes are dry.

Feeding

My inland taipans are generally fed on mice & rats. They will also feed on birds taking hatchling & small chickens. I feed them once a week or every two weeks according to the size of the prey.

Handling

When you are handling an inland taipan make sure that you are very focused. You can’t look away for a second or they might get the better of you. Personally I handle this species with the hook & tail technique. Remember, the more you “handle” your venomous animal the more you are adding risk of a potential accident or mishap that could result in a bite / envenomation.

Cleaning

For both spot cleaning and major cleaning where all substrate is removed, the snakes are removed & put into a large plastic garbage bin.

Shedding

This species don’t seem to have any real issues with shedding if you offer them the correct humidity levels.

Potential Health Problems

As a species they are very hardy so there are no particular health issues except the common snake issues.

Bite Protocol

It’s highly recommended for every venomous species that you keep or interested to keep to have the bite protocol. Each species has a dedicated bite protocol that includes general information regarding the species, information about their venom and signs and symptoms of envenomation if bitten. It also includes a detailed information about first aid (what to do and what not to do), specific treatment recommendations for medical personnel to provide appropriate care including information about the antivenom or antivenoms required for treatment. Finally it includes a list of people who specialize in snakebites and their contact information so they can be consulted to assist with the care if needed and a list of all the references used for the create the protocol.

Recommended Book

Source

The information contained in this care sheet reflect the opinions and methods of the mentioned breeder, based on their expertise and long-established experience.